International Flags Day Events in Philadelphia

(Photo: Courtesy of Soun Sumedh)

Friday, November 19, 2010: Cambodian Community, Venerable Rath Muni, Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia and Cambodian Ambassador, Hem Heng attending "International Flags" events in Philadelphia.

It's great that Mr. Hem Heng comes all the way from DC to this ceremony, but he didn't bother to come out to greet Khmer people when they were at Ambassador Residence step in DC last year.

Int'l Labor Rights Forum's letter to Cambodian ambassador Hem Heng expressing concerns over striking garment workers

Click on the letter to zoom in

Public Press Release in Response to H.E. Hem Heng, Cambodian Ambassador to US

April 22, 2010

To: All leaders, Members, General Publics and Media
From: Office of the Secretariat
Subject: CPP’s Propaganda on defection

Dear Friends,

The recent claim made by H.E. Hem Heng on the number of Cambodian-American and SRP-defection to the CPP was a political propaganda designed to fool people abroad and especially at home while the truth remains on the contrary.

This new propaganda campaign by the CPP-led government to lure Cambodian-American and others can be concluded as a positive sign, especially for Cambodia since it proves once again the government needs us and rather badly at this time, given the economic demise and political pressure inside the land. Unfortunately, the government prefers only our hard-earned cash, not our votes or political participation – a point many seem to overlook and seemingly content to be used and abused politically whenever it suits the government’s needs and taste. Not too long ago, many of the CPP supporters, including some low level officials have dished out at Cambodian abroad for fleeing the country under its repressive regime and for holding a dual-nationality.

Given issues facing the country today on all fronts: economic mismanagement, systemic corruptions, forced land evictions, border encroachments, false charges and judicial wrongful convictions, illegal logging and continued deforestation, and the political bullying of its main opposition, the government is trying hard to convince donors’ nations to overlook its own failure and credibility and getting Cambodian-American abroad to play American politics to its tune would be a new hope of consolidating its power and attract free money from donors.

One must understand the critical role Cambodian-American and others abroad are playing in shaping up the country’s future. It is a very encouraging sign to see that finally the government recognized the important contribution of Cambodian overseas, although it falls very short of allowing them to be a full-fledged Cambodian, by not allowing them to vote like other free people. Cambodian-American has played a political role in making a UN Comprehensive Peace Settlement possible at the foot-dragging of the pro-Hanoi regime, and it was Cambodian-American that have come together in defend of nation’s interests which eventually led to this new realization by the government of Cambodia. It is proving more than ever now that Cambodian-American and Cambodian abroad at large have the political clouds and necessary financial resources, the world class education to help shape Cambodian politics back home – something the CPP and its pro-Vietnam supporters are fearful most. As a result of such thinking, it has done all it could to deny Cambodian abroad, from day one during the negotiating process leading up to Paris Peace Accord, any significant political role in the democratic process, except sending cash, making pleasure trips to feed up the government’s somewhat mismanagement economic and social policy – the rich is getting richer and the poor are scrambling for food and shelters while others are on the list of being forced out due to development projects mapped out on the horizon.

We have seen a new game being deployed behind the cultural and religious scenes with a certain political inclination in order to try to promote the CPP’s popularity abroad. For a fact, a fund raising event was held to help Haitian quake victims was purportedly presented on Khmer TV Live by one of the CPP’s friend pretending that Cambodian-Montreal were celebrating January 7, 1979 which it wasn’t to start with. It caused enormous resentment in the community and those who showed up for the good cause they believed in. Was the CPP is trying to present to the donors’ nations and the free world that it has solid supports abroad while in reality it has very little, if any? Or is it simply loosing trust among Cambodian mass inside the land due to its long corrupted policies and practices? The jailing of farmers in defending of Vietnam’s planted poles deep inside Cambodia’s territory does not help the CPP-led government’s own image or argument, but rather damaging for good.

Without serious changes to political policies affecting dignity and existence of Khmer abroad it would be hard press for the CPP to convince most affluent Cambodian-American and else where to support it cause, solely for the money aspect. The Cambodian-American can play a vital role in rebuilding their nation, and it has to include all aspects of life, whether politics, economics or even education.

The Cambodian government needs to do a lot more than just asking for free money and encouraging Cambodian abroad to send in cash to prop up its repressive policy. It needs to have a more inclusive policy on Khmer account, a better treatment of Cambodian people vis-à-vis foreigners, abroad and inside the land. Otherwise, given the size and number of Cambodian-American communities across USA, 400-500 people, if that is true although highly questionable, after all these years since the opening day of the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Cambodian government has a lot of works on its hands to come up with such a mediocre number – nothing much to brag about to only a drop in a bucket.

Cambodian-American and those living abroad are quite unique, educated most and they know their history well. It is unlikely that loving and caring Cambodian-American will play to the puppet tune of a highly pro-foreign government so long they remain in America.

His Excellency can spin on the number of defection and success of his membership drives abroad, but the reality remain still by far, USA is Sam Rainsy’s country and will remain as such until there is a complete change of attitude, policies and practices that genuinely serve real interests of the Cambodian people and their nation – something that the Cambodian government has failed and failed gravely.

The Secretariat of SRP-NA

Cc: Office of the President

More Capacity Needed for Resource Management

By Im Sothearith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
20 October 2009

Laws, regulations, and capacity building comprise important steps in natural resource development, which can fill government coffers, Cambodia’s ambassador to the US said at a recent discussion in Washington.

“The revenue from both the petroleum and mining sectors will contribute substantially to the nation’s development of infrastructure, to form the basis for the future economic growth,” Ambassador Hem Heng said at the Oct. 15 discussion, organized by Oxfam America.

The International Monetary Fund estimated in 2007 that revenue from Cambodia’s untapped oil reserves could reach $174 million in 2011, climbing to $1.7 billion by 2021.

Since then, Cambodian oil has attracted major international corporations, spurring concerns from local and international organizations and donor countries that the government’s management capabilities may not be adequate.

Critics point to a record of poor management in other resources, such as timber.

Oxfam America is working with Cambodian government on natural resource management.

Lim Solin, the group’s East Asia program officer, said Oxfam America wants to see the government use resource revenue with transparency and accountability, and for future investment.

The strategy is to work with the government, civil society, the private sector and donors.

“We all have common goal to develop natural resources successfully so that average Cambodian people benefit from the developemnt” Lim Solin said.

Michael Zwirn, director of US operations for Wildlife Alliance, which has project in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, said discussion of resource management can help improve the government’s opportunities when oil and gas begin to flow.

Government officials have proven very cooperative with Wildlife Alliance, he said, but some still lack political will and dedication to develop natural resources.

“There’re some individual members of the Cambodian government who are tremendously supportive,” he said. “The other members have not yet been convinced, but we’re helping to develop political will within the Cambodian government at a very high level, as well as the rural government in the provinces.”

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Tom Lantos [Human Rights Commission Hearing]

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Hem Heng throws a tantrum and accuses TLHRC hearing as biased

CPP Hem Heng and his wife (Photo: Viseth)

Ambassador Dismisses Rights Hearing as Biased

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
11 September 2009

Cambodia’s top representative to the United States dismissed as biased a hearing at the US House of Representatives Thursday that is looking into Cambodia’s human rights record.

“We already know that they only invited the opposition party and non-governmental organizations,” Ambassador Hem Heng said in an interview in Washington. “It means that this is a biased hearing.”

The House of Representative’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, co-chaired by Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia, and James McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, scheduled a hearing Thursday to address “a concerning trend in the Cambodian government’s overall human rights record.”

Invited were Mu Sochua, a Kampot National Assembly representative for the Sam Rainsy Party who recently lost a defamation suit to Prime Minister Hun Sen; Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho; and Moeun Tola, head of the Community Legal Education Center’s labor program.

“Normally, the hearing needs to have two sides or more,” Hem Heng said. “But this hearing has only one side participating. So the hearing is trending toward the opposition party.”

International and local observers say Cambodia has seen a decline in media and personal freedoms, with critics of the government facing lawsuits and other charges.

The Cambodian Embassy in Washington released a statement Wednesday saying human rights in Cambodia have been improving.

“We have thousands of civil societies, from of expression, and the unions are progressing,” Hem Heng said. “Among these, there are at least 11 international organizations. Besides those, there is the office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for human rights.”

Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said by phone the rights situation in Cambodia has deteriorated over the past four years.

“In 2005, there were some arrests, some complaints, and then the situation was back to normal,” he said. “But in 2009, we see arrests and intimidation.”

Chan Soveth, a rights investigator for Adhoc, said political violence in Cambodia never meets justice.

“The culture of impunity in Cambodia from day to day is accumulating,” he said. “It is scary, and a serious concern.”

Hun Xen's barking mouthpiece in Washington DC statement: Excuses, excuses, and more excuses

Hem Heng (R, first row) and his wife (L) (Photo: Viseth, Cambodian-Buddhist.org)

Wednesday, 09 September 2009

Statement of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia
to the United States of America
(Regarding the Freedom of Expression in Cambodia)

The Royal Embassy of Cambodia wishes to draw the public’s attention to the following facts related to the general situation of human rights and freedom of expression in Cambodia:

1- Cambodia is a pluralistic democratic society, where democracy and human rights are fully guaranteed by its 1993 Constitution. The Cambodian Constitution recognizes the freedom of expression and other fundamental rights. Since 1993, Cambodia’s state of democracy and the overall human rights situation have continuously made significant progress.

2- At present, Cambodia has thousands of civil society organizations, as well as free press and trade unions which have been operating in the country. Out of that number, Cambodia has at least eleven foreign human rights organizations, including the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), that are working mainly on human rights-related issues. Cambodia also has the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the regular visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

3- Moreover, with regard to freedom of the press, Cambodia has almost 600 newspapers, journals and magazines, 40 radio stations, and seven television channels. If this is not enough, the people of Cambodia also have unobstructed access to all kinds of foreign media, such as the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, Cable News Network (CNN), just to name a few. Local media supporting or leaning to the opposition party are allowed a complete freedom to publish and thrive in the country. Some of the media have been critical of the government on a daily basis. The people of Cambodia, therefore, enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

4- With respect to the recent court verdicts regarding defamations and disinformation are in compliances with the law established by UNTAC, as provided in Article 61 on “Incitement to Discrimination,” Article 62 on “Disinformation,” and Article 63 on “Defamation and Libel.” The sentences handed down by the court are aimed at protecting the individual rights, as well as the security and stability of the country. Like any democratic country in the world, Cambodia cannot let the proliferation of voluntary public defamation and disinformation intended to create social disorder, which is detrimental to the well-being of the society and the dignity of all citizens.

5- In any democratic society, the rule of law is fundamental, particularly in ensuring that people’s dignity and honor are well respected and protected. Freedom of expression is not absolute and does not allow one person to defame another person. It also does not permit a campaign of disinformation to take place repeatedly.

6- In the face of this growing defamation and disinformation campaign to smear the reputation of the leaders, the Royal Government of Cambodia—like any other democratic governments—has the right to resort to justice and due process of law, such as in the cases of Mme. Mu Sochua’s defamation against Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Hang Chakra’s engagement in the campaign of disinformation.

7- The recent verdicts by the Cambodian Court on both cases are in compliance with the existing laws in relation to those offences. The prevailing laws and regulations concerning defamation and disinformation exist worldwide, particularly in developed countries, in order to protect and guarantee the right to dignity and honor of everyone alike.

8- Therefore, democracy, respect for human rights and freedom of expression must be in compliance with the rule of law.

9- All of the facts above are a clear demonstration of Cambodia’s full commitment to the promotion, development and protection of human rights and other fundamental freedoms in the country.

10- With respect to land problems, Cambodia has a land law since 2001 aimed at determining the regime of ownership for immovable properties (land) and guaranteeing the rights of ownership of the land.

- The National Authority for the Resolution of Land Disputes (NARLD) was established in 2006 for the settlement of the land disputes.

- The RGC has put in place a “Social land concession policy” to provide to the landless and the poor people plots of land. Presently, approximatively 4000 hectares of land in Kratie province, 870 hectares in Kampong Cham province and 3017 hectares in Kampong Thom province have been provided to them for housing and family farming.

- But in Cambodia, there are people who occupied the side-work [KI-Media note: sidewalk?] and used some part of the street as a market place and illegally occupied public and private properties. There are also professional squatters who take illegal possession of state or private land, and then demand compensation before moving to occupy another public or private land.

- Here also, the RGC, on the one hand, has the obligation to secure social order, and, on the other hand, to provide land for people who are in genuine need.

Hem Heng spinning the truth in the US ... does anybody believe him?

Forced eviction in Dey Krahorm: A policy of land distribution to the rich and powerful by Hun Xen's regime?

Hem Heng, Hun Xen's truth spinner in Washington DC

Cambodian embassy in Washington DC claims that human rights in Cambodia is continuously improving (sic!)

10 September 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

In a statement issued on 09 September, the Cambodian embassy in Washington DC claimed that democracy and respect of human rights are in smooth progress in Cambodia. The statement was issued right before an opposition MP and two NGO representatives were to provide their testimonies to the US Congress Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), an institution involved in the review of human rights issues in the world. The Cambodian spokesman of the ministry of Foreign Affairs has already indicated that what the opposition MP and the NGO officials will talk about are not constructive criticisms.

Expecting that the opposition MP and NGO officials will not provide positive viewpoints about the Phnom Penh regime to the TLHRC, Hem Heng, the Cambodian ambassador to Washington DC, tried to attract the public opinion by claiming that democracy and human rights in Cambodia is continuously progressing since 1993.

In a addition to this major point, Hem Heng also raised about the respect of freedom of expression by Hun Xen’s government which allowed thousands of NGOs, news media and unions to set themselves up in Cambodia.

Regarding the legal dealing of SRP MP Mu Sochua and Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, the Cambodian embassy in the US claimed that they were dealt according to the law, just like in any developed country in the world (sic!).

The last point of the Cambodian embassy statement raised was the issue of social land concessions provided to poor people along various provinces, however, it also criticized groups of people who grabbed these lands and turned them into private properties.

It is not yet known what SRP MP Mu Sochua, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, and Mr. Moeun Tola, the director of CLEC, will tell the US Congress commission.

Nevertheless, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry of Foreign Affairs, is already certain that the trio will not provide any constructive criticisms. Furthermore, he claimed that because the TLHRC is only listening to one side, it cannot receive truthful information.

Meanwhile, in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), an organization regrouping 21 NGOs, and Amnesty International issued a 70-page report about forced evictions in Cambodia. The report indicated that poor people in Cambodia are usually victims of land-grabbing by rich and powerful people who put pressure on the legal system.

Kem Sokha: The US government should strengthen its democracy-building in Cambodia

US, Cambodia Prepare Diplomatic Missions

By Reporters, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Phnom Penh & Washington
29 January 2009

Newly appointed US Ambassador Carol Rodley held her first meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen Thursday, promising a continued policy of cooperation, as Cambodia’s own ambassador prepared for his post in Washington.

The United States will continue friendly relations in politics, economics and culture in a bilateral relationship, the ambassador told VOA Khmer Thursday, following a nearly one-hour meeting with the premier.

“It was our first meeting, and it was very good to have a chance to talk to him again,” said Rodley, who was the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh from 1997 to 2000. “We will continue to have very good cooperative relations and continue to provide assistance to Cambodia.”

Ieng Sophalleth, a spokesman for Hun Sen, said the premier had thanked the ambassador for US assistance.

Cambodia and the US have enjoyed warming relations in recent years, including the resumption of military aid and other programs.

However, the US government should strengthen its democracy-building in Cambodia, said Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, “and especially help the Cambodian National Assembly strengthen democracy, to make a balance of power in the government.”

Rodley’s meeting with Hun Sen follows the arrival of Hem Heng, Cambodia’s ambassador to the US, in Washington.

“I do hope that our Cambodian people who are living here, as well as living across America, will help my mission to reach success and achievement for our nation,” Hem Heng, who has yet to be officially recognized as ambassador, said following a monk’s blessing at a pagoda in the state of Maryland Sunday.